The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has expressed the shock felt by the Scottish nation at the scale of the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in a letter to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.

The letter by the Rt Rev David Lucy to the Moderator of his American counterpart, Mr Rick Ufford-Chase read: “The connections between our churches are deep and long-standing. We keep you in our prayers and have had reason to ask for yours.

“In these last few days we have watched first the predictions and then the reality of Hurricane Katrina – and have felt the pain of your people and realised the enormity of the task you now face.”

Rev Lucy said that the task of comforting the bereaved and supporting the dispossessed to rebuild their futures, spiritually as well as physically, was one the Presbyterian Church could certainly meet.

“The work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will, we know, bring the resources of the Church to the places they are most needed – offering comfort and restoring dignity.”

The Church of Scotland has set up a resources page on its website offering prayers and a selection of readings, including Matthew 11:28 – 30, for members and leaders of the Church looking for spiritual guidance or help in guiding congregations struggling to understand the disaster.

The resources page can be accessed by clicking here